Add coconut milk and spinach to blender and blend until as smooth as possible. Add maple syrup, bananas, peppermint oil and leaves. Start on low and slowly turn blender up to high, using the damper stick of the vitamix. Use the damper to mix well in all four corners, for about 1 minute. Add cacao nibs or chocolate chips and pulse 3 times. Enjoy immediately or allow to set for one hour in the freezer.

This cheesecake is the result of an afternoon in my test kitchen! I played around with a variety of recipes to create the perfect, dairy free cheesecake. This recipe is a nutrient dense powerhouse thanks to the collection of so many amazing ingredients :

To prepare crust, place all ingredients in a food processor or Vitamix and pulse until a sticky, crumble crust mixture is achieved. If processed too long, the mixture can turn into a nut butter! Press crust firmly into pan with fingers, and place in freezer to set.

To prepare the lemon vanilla filling, drain and rinse cashews. Blend cashews, oil, milk, lemon, maple syrup and vanilla until a smooth creamy texture is formed. Use the damper stick or stop the blender to scrape down the sides with a spatula.

When desired consistency is reached, remove half of the filling lemon vanilla filling and place aside.

Add the strawberries (3/4 cup) to the filling in the blender and blend until well combined.

Remove the pan from the freezer and add the strawberry mix from the blender. Spread evenly with a spoon or spatula. Use a large soup spoon to add the lemon vanilla layer on top into small dollops. Use the back of the spoon to spread the lemon vanilla layer evenly without mixing the two layers.

Or, if you like you can swirl the layers together by placing dollops of the white cream around the pan and then use a tooth pick or butter knife and get creative with your swirling. Set in the freezer for at least 1 hour, preferably 2.

Remove cake from freezer, top with strawberry glaze and set for 5 hours, or overnight.

The next morning, I like to remove the size of the pan, let the cake sit for 5 minutes and then slice it evenly into slices which I then keep in a tupperware container in the freezer for easy access!

When serving, for a soft-creamy cheesecake, remove from freezer and let sit 15-20 minutes at room temperature.

Enjoy and be sure to comment below or add pictures of your own creations!

Once you experience the ease, simplicity, creaminess and deliciousness of your very own homemade non-dairy milk, there is no turning back! When making healthy lifestyle shifts, especially if you are using mylk on a daily basis for smoothies, elixirs or granola, I highly recommend preparing your own. Most of the packaged milks contain no nuts at all, and unfortunately only guarantee added synthentic vitamins, fillers, binding agents and artificial flavours.

Holistic Tip: Use your fresh coconut milk to prepare one of my Superfood Elixirs. Get the Free E-Book: Superfood Teas or use this for making the filling of my dairy free StRAWberry Cheese Cake.

Fresh Coconut Milk

2 cups coconut meat

4 cups of coconut water or purified water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp of pink Himalayan salt

1 tbsp maple syrup (honey or 2 medjool dates, pitted )

1 tsp pure vanilla extract (or bean/powder)

Fill blender with fresh coconut meat and cover with coconut water. Blend on high speed until smooth and all pieces are broken up.

To drain coconut milk, place a nut milk bag over a large bowl and squeeze it through. If you like, save the meat (pulp), dehydrate and use to make homemade coconut flour.

This is a new staple in my kitchen. I love the versatility of this and how I can use it as a cheezy spread on homemade raw crackers, a dip for fresh veggie sticks, added to a sandwich or kale wrap, and even a scoop as a salad topping.

Sunflower seeds are the gift of the beautiful sunflower that has rays of petals emanating from its bright yellow, seed-studded centre. They are an excellent source of Vitamin E, and a rich source of copper and B Vitamins. Read more about the benefits of sunflower seeds below.

Ingredients:

1 cup sunflower seeds

2/3 cups pecans

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp water

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped

1 clove garlic

1 tsp salt

Makes 2 1/3 cups

Instructions

Soak sunflower seeds and pecans overnight, or for at least 8 hours. Rinse and discard water.

Add sunflower seeds and pecans to food processor and puree until a puree.

Add remaining ingredients and blend until mixture is smooth and cream.

Recipe Inspired by Raw Essence Cookbook

Nutrition content of sunflower seeds

The seeds contain Vitamin E.

This can help protect cells against the effects of free radicals and substances that oxidize and harm protein structure, the cell membranes, including DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). This nutrient also helps in the maintenance of blood circulation and production of red blood cells (RBCs). One ounce of sunflower seeds has a total of 10 mg of vitamin E in it. Fact sheets for dietary supplements indicate this is already 35 percent of a person’s recommended daily requirement of Vitamin E.

Other health benefits are attributed to the seeds’ content of Thiamine, a B-vitamin.

This nutrient functions to stimulate cell catalysts or enzymes to stimulate chemical reactions that cells require in order to work efficiently. When a person has adequate levels of thiamine in the body, this assists in obtaining energy from food and generates the basic units or nucleic acids that comprise human DNA. An average human male requires 1.2 mg of Vitamin B1 daily while a female requires 1.1 mg. Every ounce of sunflower seedscontains 0.4 mg of thiamin or Vitamin B1.

Sunflower seeds also contain copper.

This mineral is excellent for maintaining the skin and hair. One ounce of the seeds contains 512 mg of copper or more than fifty percent of the recommended daily intake of this nutrient. The body utilizes copper to produce melanin responsible for giving the hair and skin their nice healthy colors. The minute particles of this protein pigment can take in the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. In this way, people are protected from damaged tissues due to overexposure to sunlight. Copper also supports the mechanism of the body’s metabolic processes to assist body cells in producing energy.

I am really enjoying experimenting with grain free recipes, and when they turn out delicious, I love to share!

These savoury muffins are perfect to add to breakfast, to enjoy on their own as a snack with ghee or to serve with your favourite soup or stew as a biscuit. You can also create a sweet version too, by switching up some of the ingredients, which I have also included below.

Flax seeds, which have been around for 6,000 years, are an easy way to include healthy omega-3 fats into the diet. They are also an incredible source of fibre which help to improve digestion due to its mucilingenic properties which aid in cleaning out the intestinal tract. Plus, only 3 Tbsp of flaxseeds contain 6 grams of protein and a variety of important minerals like manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium.

These are my absolute favourite muffin recipe. They are moist, yet crunchy thanks to the millet. It really is an easy way to include millet into our diet… it’s not just for the birds! Millet is a traditional gluten free grain that is high in minerals, especially magnesium, copper and manganese. It is also the most alkalising grain, unlike most grains which have an acidic effect on the body.

I prepare the muffins with my go-to flour, spelt. Spelt is one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history! It is not gluten free, however it contains less gluten, making it easier to digest. Spelt is also higher in protein, compared to conventional wheat, and filled with B vitamins and minerals. I love how you can take any recipe, and replace the flour with the same amount of spelt, without needing to add any binding agents, and it turns out perfect every time!

You can make this recipe with any fruit. My favourites are raspberry, apple, blueberry, peach and my new addition, strawberry. Thank you to Jae Steele’s cookbook, Ripe from Around Here, for this amazing recipe.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a 12 cup muffin tray with liners or a light coating of oil and set aside.

Whisk together the flour, millet, baking powder and soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the milk, applesauce, sweetener, oil and vanilla. Mix together just until all the flour has been absorbed. Gently fold in the berries. Pour evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are domed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Makes 12 muffins- keeps in an airtight container for 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.

This smoothie literally tastes like chocolate milk. It is extremely nutrient dense and filled with healthy fats, protein and whole food carbohydrates. The dairy free milk is made from omega-3 rich nuts and seeds + coconut milk. Enjoy as a morning energy boost, afternoon treat or post work out fuel. It is such an easy and delicious (and chocolaty!) way to include the benefits of so many amazing foods into your diet like coconut oil, hemp seeds, brazil nuts, maca, medjool dates, cacao and chia.

Benefits

Maca is a root vegetable grown in the Andes mountains of South America. It is often referred to as the “Peruvian ginseng” for its abilities to energize the body, increase stamina, reduce stress and increase libido. Maca has adaptogenic qualities which aid in balancing hormones and supporting the endocrine system.

Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids that are easily digested and utilized as an energy burning fuel source, rather than stored as body fat. It also acts as a natural anti-viral to eliminate parasites or viruses.

Hemp seeds are a complete protein containing all the amino acids needed by the body for energy, repair, building and healing. These little powerhouses also contain the perfect balance of healthy fats omega 3, 6 and GLA, among many other benefits.

Brazil nuts are one of the highest sources of selenium and contain a variety of important minerals required for heart health and a strong immune system.

Medjool dates are an excellent source of potassium, copper and fibre. They are the perfect way to sweeten a smoothie or nut mylk, and can also be enjoyed on their own. So decadent!